Electric switch.



T. E. BARNUM. ELECTRIC swnon. Y APPLICATION FILED MAY 1a, 1906. 1,086,578, Patented Feb. 10, 191 i 3 BHEBTS-BEEBT 1.

T. E. BARN UM. ELECTRIC svmon APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

a sums-sum 2.

T. B. BARNUM. BLEOTBIO swn'ofl;

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1808.

1,086,578. Patented Feb. 10, 1914 3 SHEETS-BEBE! 3.

UNITED 'sTAirEs PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E; 'BARNUM, or MILWAUKEE, wIscoNsImnsgIeNoR TO THE CUTLER- HAMMER. MFG. 00., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A conrona'rron 01? ms- CONSIN. v

ELECTRIC swrrcx.

Specification o'i Letters ratent. Application filed llay 18.1903. Serial-No. 4ss,4aa.

- Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BARNUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and the controller handle, which switch iii open the circuit auton'iatically upon the occurrence ofabnormal electrical conditions.

The object of my invention is to provide means which will cause the switch to close upon movement of the controller handle, or other operating means, which switch will open automatically upon the occurrence of abnormal conditions, irrespective of the position of the handle.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, I provide a mechanical connection between the operating handle and the switch, which connection is controlled by means of an electromagnet. If'tt is desired to .have the switch open when the voltage falls abnormally then the magnet is associated with the mechanical connection in a manner to cause the mechanical connection to close the switch upon movement of the handle, and to release the mechanical connection and allow the switch to open upon an abnormal decrease in voltage.

Of course. my invention may be embodied in various forms and may be used in 'diffe ent relations. In order to depict certain features thereof, I have illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, an electric motor controller which is provided with a switch' embodying my invention in one form.

, The several views in the accompanying drawings are as follows: ,gFigure 1 is a front elevation of the controller with the front of the casing broken away'todisclose the operating parts. Fig. 2 ls' a. vertical sectional view taken through the loyvespart ofIig. 1, looking from the lefthiind side thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are horiiontil sectional views taken on-line 4-4, Fig.1, showing the parts in different relative position. Fig. 5' is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing the parts in-differcnt relative positions with the main line switch shown in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a part of the device.

The various parts of the controller are inclosed within a casing 1. Vertically mounted within the casing in suitable bearings 2 and 3, is a shaft 4 which carries a drum 5. The drum 5 carries a series of contact segments 6 which are arranged to successively engage a series of contacts 7, mounted on an insulating base 8, secured to the back of the casing 1. In practice, the contacts 7 are connected to an armature resistance. Mounted directly below the drum 5 is a horizontally disposed supported in any preferred; manner. The base 9 carries two contact segments 12 and 13 and two series of contacts 14 and 15. The drum 5 carries two brushes 16 and 17. As the drum 5 is rotated, the brush 16 is adapted to sweep over contact segment 12 and the series of contacts 14, while the brush 17 is adapted to sweep over the contact segment 13 and the series of contacts 15. In practice, the contacts 14 and '15 are connected to a field resistance, while the contact segments 12 and 13 are connected in circuit wi the field winding of the motor. Asuitable operating handle 18 is keyed to the shalt 4. As hereinafter used, the term handle denotes any operating means. The ope'ratirrganeans may be either manual or mechanical. As the handle 18 is moved from off position the drum 5 is rotated to first gradually remove the armature resistance from circuit and then gradually insert the field resistance in circuit. The contacts base 9 which may be 12 and. 1.3 are of sutlicient length to insure all of the armature resistance being removed from circuit before the brushes 16 and 17 pass onto the contacts 14 and to insert the field resistance.

The controller just described is of a conventional type. Of course the controller may be of other forms than that shown.

I shall now describe the switch mechanism which embodies one form of my invention.

The parts which I shall now describe are preferably all mounted on an insulating panel 20, secured to the back of the casing by screws 21. The panel 20 carriese bracket secured thereto by screws 23. The bracket is substantially U-shape and carries a pin 24 which extends through both legs thereof. The phi 24 is secured in the bracket 22 by pins 25. The lower leg of the bracket 22 isfprovided with a downwardly and forwardlyextending portion 26 which carries an upwardly projecting rod 27 which forms the pole piece of the electromagnet 28 mounted thereon. Fulcrumed on the pin 24 is a. switch. 29 which carries an arcing contact 30 and an auxiliary contact 31 and a main contact 32. The arcing contact 30 is adapted to engage a carbon contact 33, carried by a bracket 34, secured to the panel 20 by screws 35. The bracket 34 is provided with a contact face 36 with which the auxiliary contact 31 and the main contact 3* are adapted to on age. It should be understood that the switc 29 may be of other forms than the one illustrated. The switch 29 carries a tail piece 37 adapted to engage a projection 38 carried by the bracket 22 to limit the outward movement of said switch. A coil spring 39 interposed between the panel 20 and the switch 29 tends to force said switch into open position. The boss of the switch 29 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 40 which carries a downwardly projecting pin 41. Fulcrumed on the pin 24, below the switch 29, is an arm which carries at its forward end a roller 43. The roller 43 is adapted to be engaged by an insulating disk or cam 44. The disk 44 is provided with a notched portion 45 in which the roller 43 is adapted torest when the controller is in off position. A spring 46, shown in Fig. 5, interposed between the base 20 and the arm 42 maintains the roller 43 in engagement with the periphery of the disk or cam 44. Intermediate of its ends the arm 42 carries an upwardly projecting pin 47 upon whichis fulcrumed an armature member 48 for the electromagnet 28. The armature member 48 is cut. away at its end to form a hook 49 adapted to engage the pin 41 carried by the arm 40 of the switch 29 when said armature member is attracted to the pole piece 27 of the electromagnet 28. Inasmuch as the armature member 48 is pivoted to the arm 42, as said arm is moved inwardly it will tend to draw said armature member inwardly, and drag the same over the pole piece 27 when the magnet 28 is energized. To 'prevent the movement of the: arm 42 from drawing the armature member 48 -away from the pole piece 27, I curve the edge of the armature member which engages the pole piece 27 in the manner shown. The

switch 42 is adapted to control the contiunity of the motor circuit. For connecting the switch 42 in circuit I provide the same with a binding post 50 and the bracket 34 which carries the arcing contact and the main contact with a binding post 51. The

magnet 28 is adapted to beso connected in circuit that the same will attract its armature member 48 as long as the voltage on the main line is normal and will release its armature upon an abnormal decrease or failure of voltage on the main line. Of course the magnet may be connected in circuit in various ways to serveits urpose.

I shall now describe the operation of the device just described. Assume that the controller handle is in oil position and the roller 43 rests in the notch 45 of the disk 44. If the circuit of the magnet 28 is closed and the voltage on the main line is normal, said magnet will attract its armature member 48, as shown in Fig. 5. In this posit-ion of the armature member 48 the hook portion 49 thereof will be in line with the pin 41 carried by the outwardly projecting arm 40 of the switch 29. If new the controller handle be moved from off, position, the disk 44 will be rotated and the roller 43 carried by the arm 42 will be forced inwardly by the inclined edge of the notch 45 in said disk. This movement of the-disk 44 forces the arm 42 inwardly, carryin the armature member 48' inwardly and ragging the same over the pole piece27. A

slight. inward movement of the arm 42 will bring the hook 4.) of the armature member 48 into engagement with the pin 41, thereby locking the switch 29 to the arm 42. Continued inward movement of the arm 42'will thus cause the switch 42 to also move inwardly. As shown in Fig. 3, when the roller 43 engages the outer periphery of the disk 44, the main switch will be thrown inwardly until the contacts 30, 31 and 32 thereof engage their respective stationary contacts. thus closing the motor circuit. So long as the magnet 28 is energized the switch and arm will be locked together, and, therefore, during the continued rotation of the disk 44 the switch will be maintained closed. Under normal conditions the switch will remain closed until the controller handle has been moved back to ott' position, whereupon the roller 43 will again enter the notch 45 in the disk 44 and permit the arm 42 and the switch 29 to move outwardly under the pressure of their respective springs 46 and 39, thereby opening the motor circuit. If, however, after the main switch 29 is closed in the manner already described, the voltage on the main circuit fails, the magnet 28 will release the armature member 48, whereupon the spring 39 will force the switch 29 outwardly. During the outward movement of the switch 29 the pin 41, carried thereby, presses against the hook 49 carried by the armature member 48. Inasmuch as the armature member 48 and the arm 40 carrying the pin 41 turn on different centers the outward movement of the switch 29 will cause the pin 41 to strike the hook portion of the armature member out of its path, whereupon the switch 29 will be free to open under the pressure of its spring 39 without opposition.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the parts after the switch has been opened upon failure of voltage, as just described. As shown in Fig. 4, when the switch 29 has been fully opened the pin 41 engages the end of the hook 49 of the armature member 48, thereby preventing the attraction of said armature member to the pole piece 27, even though the magnet 28 is again energized. In order to again close the switch it is necessary to first move the controller handle to off position, whereupon the roller 43 will enter the notch 45 in the disk 44 and thus permit the arm 42 to move outwardly under the pressure of the spring 46. During the outward movement of the arm 42 the armature member 48 is moved longitudinally until the hook 49 thereof is moved clear of the pin 41. It now the magnet 28 is energized it will attract the armature member 48, as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the switch 29 may be again closed, as already described. I

' been moved back to off position, the mag,-

net 28 will not attract its armature member 48, and, therefore, if an attempt is made to again close the main switch before normal voltage is restored the arm 42 will be moved inwardly and will draw the armature 48 with it into the position shown in Fig. 4, without imparting any movement to the switch 29.

The structure which I provide prevents the., motor circuit from being closed after the voltage has once abnormally decreased unless all the starting resistance is first put into circuit and the normal voltage again restored.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a switch member, an operating member therefor and a mechanicall connection between said member: normally permittin movement of said operative member in ependently of said switch member and a stationarily mounted electromagnet controlling said connection to operatively connect said members, said magnet maintaining said connection etl'ective during movement thereof relative thereto.

2. In combination, a switch, an operating member therefor, said switch and said member being movable independently of one another, and a stationary electromagnet for causing said switch to move with said operating member as a unitary part thereof, said switch tending to return to initial position upon denergization of said electromagnet.

3. In combination, a switch member, an operating member therefor normally movable independently thereof and means including an electromagnet for positively connecting said members, but necessitatin said members being in predetermined re ation prior to their connection.

4. In combination, a switch member, tending to stand in a predetermined position, an operating member therefor normally movable independently thereof, means including a stationarily mounted electromagnet for positively connecting said members, said means releasing said switch. member from said operating member upon denergization of said magnet and necessitating said members being in a redetermined relation prior to connection t creof.

5. In combination, a pivoted switch tendable independently of one another, a sta-' tionaily electromagnet, a member connected to sai arm and adapted to be attracted by said magnet to cause said'arm', when actuated, toclosesaid switch and when released by said magnet to permit said switch to open, irrespective of the position of sa d arm.

6. In combination, a pivoted switch tending to stand in open position, a pivoted member, said switch and said member being movable independently of one another, a stationary low-voltage magnet, means carried by said member and adapted to be attracted by said magnetto engage said switch to cause the same to move with said member, and when released by said magnet to permit said switch to open, irrespective of the position of said member.

7. In combination, a pivoted switch, a pivoted arm, said switch and said arm being movable independently of one another, a low-voltage magnet, a member pivoted on said arm and provided with a hook adapted to engage a pin carried by said switch, said member being adapted to be attractedhy said magnet to cause said arm and said switch to move together, and means for opening said switch when said member is released by said magnet, irrespective of the position of said arm.

8. The combination with a controller having an operating member, of a main line switch, a mechanical connection between said operating member and said switch, and an electromagnet for causing said connection to impart movement from said member to said switch when said member is operated.

9. The combination with a controller having an operating member, of a main line switch, a member movable independently of said switch and adapted to be actuated by said operating member, a low-voltage magnet, means connected to said second mentioned member adapted to be attracted by said magnet to cause said switch to be closed by said operating mei'nber, and means for opening said switch irrespective of the position of said operating member when said means is released by said magnet.

10. The combination with a. controller having an operating shaft, of a pivoted main switch tending to stand in open position, a pivoted arm, said switch and said arm being movable independently of one another, a cam carried by said shaft for actuating said arm, a low-voltage magnet hav ing an armature connected to said arm, said armature, when attracted bv said magnet, being adapted to cause said arm to close said swi? n. as said cam is roiated and when released by said magnet to permit said switch to open, irrespective of theposition of said cam.

11. The combination with a controller having an operating shaft, of a pivoted main line switch, a pivoted arm, said switch and arm being movable independently of one another, a cam carried by said shaft for actuating said arm, a low-voltage magnet, an armature for said magnet pivoted on said arm and provided with a hook adapted to engage a pin carried by said switch, said armature, when attracted by said magnet, being adapted to cause said arm and said switch to move together as the cam is rotated, and means for opening said switch when said armature is released by r id magnet, irrespective of the position of said cam.

12. The combination with the operating member of a controller, of a main line switch, means for imparting movement from said member to said switch, and a. low voltage magnet controlling said means, said switch being arranged to return to initial position 113011 deenergization of said electromagnet, and said first mentioned means being arranged to necessitate the return of said member to initial position to again operate said switch.

'13. The combination with the operating member of a controller, of a main line switch I i i 1 l I a E l i i I i ii i l l i i l i l i member. a revoluble adapted to be actuated thereby, a low voltage magnet controllin the operation of said switch and an interloci necessitating the re turn of said member to initial position to close said switch.

14. In combination, a switch member, a cam operating member therefor, and electromagnetically controlled means for estabishing a positive connection between said members.

15. In combination, a switch member, a cam operating member therefor, and electromagnetically controlled means for estabishing a positive connection between said members, said means upon deenergization of its controlling magnet permitting move ment of either of said members independently of the other.

16. In combination, a switch member, a cam operating member therefor, a. connection betweensaid members including a men ber engaging said cam and normally movable independently of said switch member, and an elcctromagnet for positively connect ing said movable member to said switch member.

17. In combination, a switch member, a cam operating member therefor and a connection between said members including a member engaging said cam member but normally movable independently of said switch member. and a stationarily mounted electromagnet adapted while energized to opcratively connect said last mentioned member with said sn itch member.

18. in combination, a switch member, a cam operating member therefor and a connection between said incn'ibers including a member engaging said cam member but nor-- mally movable independently of said switch member, and a stationarily mounted electromagnet adapted while energized to opera lively connect said connecting member with said switch member, said connection. necessitating said switch member and said cam member being in a prcdetcrmineiil relation prior to the onnection of said connecting member with said switch member.

'19. In (.Ohlllllltlllfill, a. pivoted switch cam member, an intermediate pivoted member engaging said cam and normally movable independently of said switch member, and electromagneticallv controlled means for connecting said switch member to said intermediate memberv to be operated by said ,cam member.

20. ln combination, a pivoted switch member. a revoluble cam member, an intermediate pivoted member engaging said cam and normally movable independently of said switch member, and. clectromagnetically controlled means for r.

connecting said switch'member to said intermediate member to be operated by. cam member, 

